#1 Benefit of Lavender Herbal Tea

Superfood Evolution presents Lavender Tea and its number one benefit. The lavender plant and many of its variations are most well known around the world for their distinct, aromatic, perfume-like scent often used as an essential oil in aromatherapy treatments. But did you know that lavender flowers and leaves can also be utilized for their therapeutic potentials? In fact, one of the most traditional ways lavender has been used since the early days of herbal medicine is as a tea or hot water infusion. From the genus Lavandula, there are approximately 47 species and Lavandula Augustifolia, or English Lavender, is one of the top varieties cultivated and grown for oral intake. While it's native to the Mediterranean region, not England directly, it has been a common plant found in British herb gardens as well as herbals and materia medicas ever since the Middle Ages. Though not usually one that you may reach for when brewing a cup of tea, lavender has made a recent resurgence for such purposes, and there is a good reason why. Lavender Herbal Tea Benefits for Anxiety and How It Works Lavender herbal tea can be a simple herbal option to consider, adding to your self-care routine to calm anxiousness, help to reduce stress, and decrease its impact on the nervous system. The main reason for this is because lavender happens to be on the list of herbal nervines. This is a group of herbs known for their calming and in some cases sedative actions. Nervines are considered supportive herbal allies for the brain, nerves, and the body's natural response to stress. In modern times, and especially with the events of 2020, lavender tea can provide additional nervine support when life traumas tend to overwhelm one's sense of stability. When under stress, the body causes the adrenal glands to secrete stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This can have an especially impactful outcome when it becomes a frequent occurrence, compromising both our immune and nervous system functions. While regular use of adaptogens are also helpful for managing stress over the course of one's lifetime, periodic use of different nervine plant allies can also work in conjunction, offering a soothing and more peaceful life experience during uncertain times when a relaxing moment can be hard to come by. Lavender is a Nervine Tonic and Relaxant Lavender is classified as both a Nervine Tonic and Nervine Relaxant. Nervine tonics offer nourishment to the nervous system and include others like ashwagandha, oat tops, albizia, and brahmi. Nervine relaxants are recognized for their tranquilizing properties and include others like chamomile, california poppy, skullcap, passionflower, saint john's wort, hops, and valerian. Sometimes these two categories overlap, as is the case with lavender. Many of these herbs are commonly used in tea or tincture form to induce relaxed states. However, compared to some of these herbal nervines, lavender doesn't have a strong sedative influence and when consumed as a tea infusion is less likely to make you feel drowsy. In other words, it can offer mild, calming actions that can help to settle the nerves rather than make you feel like taking a nap. It is more apt to prepare one for better sleep because it can relax nervous tension as well as soothe anxious thoughts and worry which may cause sleep disturbances. In a 2020 trial on elderly subjects, results showed a reduction in depression and anxiety scores after lavender herbal tea made with about half a teaspoon or two grams of flowers was consumed twice a day for a two-week period. While scientific evidence remains inconclusive, some research using an oral lavender oil preparation was found to have a positive influence on quality and duration of sleep without promoting sedative effects on 221 patients suffering from anxiety disorders. Lavender Tea's Botanical Constituents The lavender plant may look quite unassuming with its delicate little flower buds, yet it remains one of the most potent as far as fragrance. This aspect not only provides calming qualities to humans via the sense of smell, but is also an indication that certain botanical constituents are at work behind the scenes. Consuming lavender tea is another way to put these potent floral components to good use. Hot water flower and leaf infusions help to release the volatile oils and many of its relaxing qualities. It is estimated that lavender plants and their essential oils contain over 100 different compounds. Although many are present in low amounts, some of the most prominent ones include linalool, linalool acetate, terpenin-4-ol, eucalyptol, levandulol, camphor, and limonene. The tea has a pleasant floral yet minty taste with a slight amount of bitterness. How to Make Lavender Herbal Tea To make lavender tea, simply infuse 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowers or 2-3 teaspoons of fresh flowers into 1 cup or 8 ounces of hot water and let steep with the lid for 5-10 minutes. Teas can be served hot or as a refreshing lavender iced tea or lavender lemonade. They can be made from straight lavender flowers or of course blended with other herbs. The dried flower buds can turn the tea a purple-brown to purple-pink hue when infused in hot water, or they can only have a slight effect. This color variation is largely dependent on the quality and variety of lavender as some have a deeper pigmentation. Note, when using lavender for herbal teas or dietary purposes, it is best to use species like Lavandula Augustifolia or English Lavender or Common Lavender, Lavandula Ex Intermedia, Lavandin, or culinary grade Lavandula Dentata, French Lavender. For more on how to use lavender tea and flowers, visit the card above or the description box below this video. Precautions Consult a health care professional before using lavender herbal tea if pregnant, nursing, if you are taking any medications, or have a serious medical condition. Thanks for watching! For more in-depth info, as well as top quality sources of lavender, be sure and investigate the description box below this video. Please support the channel by giving this video a thumbs up if you found it useful. And be sure and check out these other informational videos.